Belgium’s government held consultations with U.S. Ambassador Bill White after the diplomat accused the country of antisemitism, particularly in reference to an investigation involving three Jewish religious figures suspected of carrying out traditional circumcisions without necessary medical training. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot dismissed these allegations as dangerous disinformation, insisting that White respect Belgian institutions and courts’ independence.
Belgian authorities are investigating three men from the city of Antwerp who have been accused of performing circumcisions without medical qualifications. These searches were conducted by local police in May. Ambassador Bill White issued a social media post on Monday, characterizing these investigations as antisemitic harassment, and he called for Belgium’s health minister to make a legal provision allowing Jewish religious mohels to continue their duties within the country.
A mohel is a Jewish religious official who performs traditional circumcisions typically without formal medical training. Despite not being banned in the U.S., some aspects of this practice have caused controversy among communities with large Orthodox Jewish populations. In his post on social media, White insisted that Belgium should “get into the 21st century” and allow Jews to legally perform their religious freedoms.
In contrast, Belgian public broadcaster VRT reported ongoing investigations into these men. The minister of foreign affairs, Prévot, emphasized that Belgian law allows ritual circumcision when carried out by qualified physicians under strict health and safety standards. She also reiterated Belgium’s strong condemnation of antisemitism, stating it is an absolute priority to combat all forms of hatred.
In a sharp response to the ambassador’s accusations, Prévot posted on social media: “Any suggestion that Belgium is antisemitic is false, offensive, and unacceptable. The fight against antisemitism is our country’s top priority.”
White countered with another post, stating, “It’s not okay to simply say we ‘follow the law’ and ‘we are not antisemitic.’ These things can’t be true in this case.” He vowed to visit the three men suspected of carrying out circumcisions and invited Belgium’s health minister to join him.
Despite these discussions and legal frameworks set by Belgian authorities, White’s criticisms have reignited debates within the country. The government continues to assert its commitment to combating antisemitism while defending the rights of Jewish religious practitioners.